English Department

The aims of the English Department at Yavneh are:

  • To enable every child to develop their creativity whilst learning the technical skills required for accurate writing
  • To encourage every child to widen their reading and their appreciation of literature across different centuries and cultures
  • To enhance every child’s communication skills, both oral and written, for formal and informal purposes

We set extremely high standards and focus on challenging all pupils. Our schemes of work are detailed, explaining what is required lesson by lesson, and also include cross-curricular links with Business & Enterprise, Citizenship and ICT.

Curriculum

Key Stage 3 (KS3)

Pupils study the following units:

  • Study of a novel: Throughout this unit of work, pupils learn how to analyse, examining narrative style, plot, characters, themes and symbolism.
  • Literary Heritage: Year 7 Shakespeare, Year 8 Chaucer, Year 9 Dickens.
  • Non-fiction: Pupils study persuasive, autobiographical/biographical, discursive writing, etc.
  • Poetry: Ballads, haikus and sonnets. Pupils learn how to write their own poetry as well as learning to write critical comparative essays.
  • Public Speaking/Debating: Pupils learn to perform formal oral tasks, culminating in our annual public speaking competition.
  • Creative writing: Pupils study specific genres, examining the features of that genre and then producing their own pieces e.g. horror, Greek myths, detective stories.
  • Media: Pupils study advertising, the moving image and newspapers

Throughout KS3, we place a significant emphasis on the use of a variety of lively teaching styles, with four clear parts to each lesson – silent reading, starter, main body of lesson and plenary. Engaging the pupils and building their enthusiasm for the subject is paramount. They respond with confidence and excitement.

GCSE (GCSE cohort 2009-11)

Two GCSEs are studied: English Language and English Literature. At present pupils are following the AQA Specification A for both subjects. This, however, will change in 2010 for the fresh Year 10 intake, when a new GCSE course is introduced.

English Language

Pupils sit two exam papers: Paper 1, which consists of response to non-literary texts, and writing to argue, persuade or advise; Paper 2 which consists of a response to poetry from other cultures, and writing to explain, describe and inform.
Coursework will consist of: Speaking and Listening tasks (individual, pair and group); study of a Shakespeare play; study of a pre-1914 novel; Original Writing and a response to a media text (usually the moving image).

English Literature

Pupils sit one examination: an essay on a post-1914 novel; and an essay on Poetry from the AQA anthology.
Coursework is a cross-over with Language on the Shakespeare and pre-1914 novel response, with the additional study of a post-1914 play.

 

GCSE (GCSE cohort 2010-12)

Pupils will study either English (one GCSE), or English Language and Literature (two GCSEs). It will be left to the teacher’s discretion which courses each pupil will follow. Pupils will follow the OCR specifications.

1) GCSE English

A641: GCSE English Unit 1: Reading Literary Texts

Pupils study and respond to three texts, one drama, one prose or literary non-fiction, and one poetry. The latter two include a study of an English, Welsh or Irish literary heritage text and a different culture or tradition/ contemporary text. Controlled assessment.

A642: GCSE English Unit 2: Imaginative Writing

Pupils produce two linked, continuous, imaginative writing responses, which are either personal and imaginative writing or prose fiction. Controlled assessment.

A643: GCSE English Unit 3: Speaking and Listening

Pupils engage in speaking and listening activities in a variety of formal and informal contexts. Three scenarios are used, one of which must be in a real-life context in and beyond the classroom. Controlled assessment.

A644: GCSE English Unit 4: Information and Ideas

The examination consists of two sections:

Section A: Non-fiction and Media is based on the reading of previously unseen material.

Section B: Writing Information and Ideas involves producing a piece of continuous writing on a topic broadly linked to the reading material provided.

2) GCSE English Language

A651: GCSE English Language Unit 1: Extended Literary Text and Imaginative Writing

Extended Literary Text
Pupils respond to one text from a choice of prose, drama, poetry or literary non-fiction. They produce one continuous writing response.

Imaginative Writing
Pupils produce two linked, continuous, imaginative writing responses, which are either personal and imaginative writing or prose fiction.

This unit is assessed as a Controlled assessment.

A652: GCSE English Language Unit 2: Speaking, Listening and Spoken Language

This unit is divided into 2 sections:

Section A: A drama-focused activity, group activity and an individual extended contribution, one of which must be a real-life context in and beyond the classroom.

Section B: A response to studying use of spoken language (oral or written).

This unit is assessed as a Controlled assessment. Functionality is assessed in this unit.

A653: GCSE English Language Unit 3: Information and ideas

The examination consists of two sections:

Section A: Non-fiction and Media is based on the reading of previously unseen material. These comprise of one non-fiction and one media piece.

Section B: Writing Information and Ideas involves pupils producing a piece of continuous writing on a topic broadly linked to the reading material provided.

3) GCSE English Literature

A661: GCSE English Literature Unit 1: Literary Heritage Linked Texts

Shakespeare and Film: Pupils answer one question on a Shakespeare text linked to a film or audio version.

Poetry: Pupils study one poet from a choice of six and answer one comparative question linking two poems they have studied by the same poet.

This unit is assessed as a Controlled assessment.

A662: GCSE English Literature Unit 2: Modern Drama

Pupils study one of six modern drama texts and answer one passage-based examination question or one essay question or one empathic question.

A663: GCSE English Literature Unit 3: Prose from Different Cultures

Pupils study one of six texts from different cultures and answer one passage-based examination question or one essay question.

A664: GCSE English Literature Unit 4: Literary Heritage Prose and Contemporary Poetry

Literary Heritage Prose: Pupils study one from six Literary Heritage Prose texts. They answer one passage-based examination question or one essay question or one empathic question based on a Literary Heritage Prose text.

Contemporary Poetry: Pupils study one poet from a choice of six anthologised poets from the Poetry Anthology or study for the contemporary unseen poem. They answer one examination question on a poem by the poet of their choice or respond to an unseen poem.

 

Assessment

Pupils at KS3 are assessed by National Curriculum Levels:

  • Levels 3-5 in Year 7
  • Levels 4-6 in Year 8
  • Levels 5-7 in Year 9 N.B. From 2008, Level 8 will be available nationally.

AfL (Assessment for Learning) is used extensively in English. Pupils are issued with exercise books in order to draft their writing, whilst final drafts are done on A4 paper and kept in folders in the classroom. As a result, pupil progress can clearly be seen at a glance. Peer assessment is undertaken on the drafts before the final piece is produced. At the end of each unit, the work is self-assessed, peer-assessed and teacher-assessed, using sheets which focus pupils on key aspects of their reading, writing, speaking or listening. Not all final drafts will receive a National Curriculum level, but pupils are informed of their progress through comments that focus on the positive aspects of their work and provide guidance for improvement.

Pupils are carefully tracked throughout KS3 to ensure that they are achieving their full potential. Mentoring sessions and catch-up English activities are provided for those who need further assistance in making progress.

Sixth Form

Students joining the new Yavneh College Sixth Form in September 2008 will be able to study AS English Literature (OCR specification H071 & GCE H471). The units studied are:

  • Poetry & Prose 1800 – 1945.
    Wilfred Owen’s war poetry and Thomas Hardy’s Tess of the D’Urbervilles, which will be assessed through closed text examinations. Students will also study a selection of critiques on literature, which they will use to enhance their understanding of literary techniques.
  • Literature post -1900.
    A thematic study (the Horror of Isolation) of The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks, The Birthday Party by Harold Pinter, and The Beach by Alex Garland, culminating in coursework.
  • Drama and Poetry pre – 1800.
    Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare, Doctor Faustus by Christopher Marlowe and Paradise Lost Book One by John Milton. These texts will be assessed by closed-text examinations.
  • Texts in Time.
    Regeneration by Pat Barker, Siegfried Sassoon War Poetry and All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque. These texts will be studied on a thematic basis (War literature) and provide the final piece of coursework.

Please note that the texts listed above may be subject to change.

Facilities

The English Department at Yavneh has a suite of classrooms. The department is well-resourced and possesses a variety of texts ranging from travel writing, autobiographies/biographies to novels and plays, catering for a range of abilities. There is an interactive whiteboard, as well as a visualiser and PC in each classroom and sets of laptops are readily available for pupil use. The English Department utilises pupil mini-whiteboards for most lessons.

Enrichment

The English Department offers a number of enrichments throughout the year for KS3 pupils. These include:

  • Debating
  • Public Speaking
  • Poetry Appreciation
  • Word games
  • Drama
  • Catch-up English

In addition, the department arranges various outings throughout the year, including theatre visits, and invites established authors into school to speak to pupils about their craft.

Public Speaking Competition

Every year a KS3 public speaking competition takes place, with judges invited from the media and politics. Prizes are awarded for the best team and best overall speaker. This is a high profile event in Yavneh’s calendar, and showcases the exceptional ability of some of our pupils.